Vertical, all-black solar system seeks to power through the winter snow

Chinese solar PV manufacturer Longi has completed the first vertical installation of all-black solar modules in Japan, in a bid to circumvent generation losses during the region’s snowy winters.

The vertical installation of Longi’s 2.58 kW Hi-MO X6 all-black solar modules have been installed on a Tomita company building on the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, Hokkaido.

Snowfall during Hokkaido’s prolonged winter season has wrought havoc on the efficiency of rooftop solar installations.

The ideal installation angle of 38° in Sapporo still succumbs to a 90% reduction in power output during the snowy months, and even installation at a steeper angle of 75° results in a 50% loss in power generation.

Furthermore, local regulations prohibit rooftop snow removal for safety reasons, meaning that rooftop solar projects in Hokkaido have struggled to provide consistent solar generation and returns on investment.

Installing vertical solar panels was one answer, but that raised questions around aesthetic and architectural design, for which Tomita turned to Longi’s all-black solar panels.

Longi’s Hi-MO X6 all-black modules are made with HPBC cell technology and present a black visual effect that increases light absorption and improves power generation conversion efficiency.

This all-black design makes for a more aesthetically pleasing integration with the building’s façade, achieving what Longi describes as “a perfect blend of power generation and modern architectural aesthetics.”